Filing device



A. S. KARPER FILING DEVICE Aug. 16-, 1 949.

4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 12, 1946 HWORNEIS A. s. KARPER 2,479,167

FILING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 16, 1949.

Filed Dec. 12, 1946 5 a m I n M 4 m r W R M; 4M w a m I 7 m s M M M y \Wa mu M W B Aug. 16, 1949. A. s. KARPER FILING DEVICE Filed Dec. 12, 19464 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. I flrafiam Li Zar ur M M [M HTTORNE Y5 A. S.KARPER FILING DEVICE Aug. 16, 1949.

4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec.

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llllllllllllll m M M W C I. w. m M a a m 1% B a aw Nh i W 5 Q ZPatentedAug. 16, 1949 FILING DEVICE Abraham S. Karper, Ellenville,N. Y.I Application December 12, 1946, SerialNo. 715,821

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in filing and card indexingdevices, and has for a primary object the provision large number ofcards or the like may be filed within a compact filing unit whilemaintaining complete accessibility and ease of reference to the filedcards.

It is an object of the invention to provide a filing device in which thecards or the like occupy a plurality of plane surfaces disposedtangentially about a common shaft mounted for rotation, whereby althoughthe space saving advantages of a rotary type of filing equipment areachieved, the filed material is arranged in straight lines for readyreference and accessibility.

It is an object of the invention to provide a filing deviceincorporating the increased capacity of the conventional rotating filingapparatus with the ease of access and reference provided by a straightline arrangement of the filed material.

It is an object of the invention to provide a rotar file in which anangular shaft is used as the basis for building three or more filingcompartments in which the material to be filed is arranged instraight-line formations.

It is another object of the invention to provide a filing device whichmay be converted from a two compartment unit to a multi-compartment unitby the substitution only of a different rotor, all other elements of thefiling unit being unchanged.

I is an object of the invention to provide a rotary type of fileequipment having resilient means which provide a constant,self-adjusting brake action.

It is an object of the invention to provide a straight-linecompartmented rotary file in which a simplified braking systemeliminates the necessity of balancing the unit when the filecompartments are not uniformly loaded.

It is an object of the invention to provide a rotatable filing device inwhich the cards to be filed are supported on straight parallel rails.

It is an object of the invention to provide a filing device in which thewidth can be increased to accommodate wider files or additionalmaterial-receiving units supported on a common rotor system, theconversion requiring the substitution of a minimum number'of newelements.

It is an object of the invention to provide a filing device having abasic structure with which may be interchangeably used a rotor unithaving two, three or more compartments for filing. thus greatlysimplifying manufacturing procedures of means wherein a UNITED STATESPATENT. OFFICE The advantages of utilizing the full circumference of acircle in order to increase the capacit of office files or the like haslong been recognized. There are on the market rotating file deviceswherein the cards, envelopes, or the like are suspended from spaced,rotatably mounted circular rims, the suspended material beingsubstantially radial when the file is completed. Because of such radialsuspension, the writing or annotations on a card or file is obscured bythe card immediatelyahead, and the cards or files cannot be flipped orspread for ready reference, as may those which are arranged inconventional straight line fillng'or index boxes.

The present invention provides a'plurality of straight-line compartmentswhich are arranged tangentially with respect to a central shaft mountedfor rotation. The compartments may be brought into reference position byrotation of the compartment unit. The cards or other files are removablysecured to guide rails, which permit the cards .to be easily handled orflipped while holding them against dropping out of position in suchcompartments as are not in use at any time. The rotors have a lightfrictional engagement with their supporting standards, suflicient tohold the compartments in the'reference position, but without makingrotation diificult.

other features and advantages will hereinafter be described.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view,in section through the central axis, of a threecompartment filing device embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical elevation taken in section on lines 2-2 of Fig. 1';

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary end elevation of the device; d

Fig. 4 is a vertical elevation looking in the direction of ll of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 illustrates means for increasing the width of the device of Fig.1 by the insertion of extension elements on the central shafts;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view partly in section showin another form of athree compartment device;

Fig. 7 is a vertical elevation, also partly in section, on the apparatusof Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a reduced scale perspective of a frame which forms one ofthefiling compartments of the structure of Fig. '1;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation, in section, of arotor unit for a twocompartment filing device;

aware? Fig. 10 is a side elevation of a rotor unit for a fourcompartment filing device;

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional elevation of another embodiment of theinvention;

Fig. 12 is an end elevation of the embodiment of Fig. 11; and

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary vertical elevation, in section, of the Fig. 11embodiment, showing how the width of the unit may be increased toaccommodate additional material-receiving sections.

Referring initially to Fig. 1 wherein is shown one embodiment of theinvention, the filing device l comprisesa frame including side wallmembers II, II, suitably supported upon a base l4, as by rivets l orequivalent. The side walls may be rotated outwardly with respect to thebase. The rubber feet I! may be so located relative to the side walls I6 that the upwardly extending stud portions I30 resiliently bear againstthe lower edges of said walls to urge the side walls I 36 extendinginwardly into rotation toward each other. Each side wall is providedwith an inwardly extending circular rim It, said rims being in mutualalignment and of identical radius. The side walls may have openingsconcentric with the circular rims.

For cooperation with the respective rims l6 there are provided a pair ofrotors 20 having an outwardly extending peripheral flange 2| whichrelatively snugly fits over said rims, whereby said rims form bearingsurfaces upon which the rotors are carried. The fit of the flanges 2|upon the respective rims It is such as to provide a relatively lightfrictional contact so that the rotors will not freely turn. Each rotor20 is characterized by a polygonal inwardly extending hollow shaft 22.Illustratlveiy said shafts are triangular, although other shapes may beused.

The side walls and hub members may be cast or otherwise formed of lightmetals, or may comprise metal stampings, according to the preference ofthe manufacturer.

It will be noted from Fig. 2 that the ends 23 of the shafts 22 areshouldered and provide an inwardly offset structure for the receipt ofthe similarly configurated hub portion 24 of the card receiving unit 25.The unit 25 is thus non-rotatable on the shafts 22, but is rotatablysupported within the frame. Flat, preferably narrow, platforms 26, 21,28, project from the triangular hub 24, to provide three filingcompartments in which two adjacent platforms cooperate to form the baseand rear wall of each compartment.

Means are provided for resiliently urging the side walls I l toward therespective rotors. In the embodiment of Fig. 1, said means comprise acoil spring 3i extending through the aligned shafts 22 and hub 24 andanchored to rods 32. A convenient means of supporting the spring 3|,while providing for the ready disassembly of the unit in the event thata new card unit is to be substituted for one previously in use, is toprovide diametrically opposite lugs 22 on the respective side walls II,the inner ends of said lugs having sockets or grooves to receive theends of the rods 32. By grasping one of the rods and drawing itoutwardly, it may be rotated away from, and disengaged from, the lugs33. Either or both of the side walls I I may be swung outwardly topermit the rotors 20 and therewith associated unit 25 to be removed.

As shown in Fig. 4, the cards or other material C are carried upon rails24 which are U-shaped and are pivotally secured by a strap 35 providedon the underside of each of the platforms. The free forward ends of therails snap into notches from the sides of the forward walls 20. Thecards have keyhole slots 21 in their lower edge, whereby the cards maybe snapped over the rails, as shown in Fig. 5. The slider blocks 38 maybe formed from a suitably configurated metallic sheet bent on itselfabout a coil spring 39, the ends of which engage the rails 34.

The rails 3,4 are parallel to the respective platforms, and hence eachgroup of files, when in reference position such as the left hand groupof Fig. 4, is in a straight line arrangement and easily accessible;

The embodiment of Fig. 5 incorporates means for extending the width ofthe unit for use with wider cards or other material to be filed byextending the shafts 22 with supplemental means 40 on which the hub 24of a filing unit is supported. The card rack 25 is the same as thatshown in Fig. 4. Fig. 5 shows in cross section a base member II whichextends the full length of each side wall I l, to form cushion feettherefor. Tie rods 42. interconnect the side walls, or, of course, abase member may be used in lieu of the tie rods.

The compressibility of the respective rubber base members 4| permits theside Walls II to be sprung outwardly sufilciently to remove or replacethe rotors 20 and the file compartment means carried thereby.

An internal spring 3| with or without the end securement rods 32 aspreviously described may be utilized to increase the frictionalresistance to rotation by the outward pressure exerted thereby.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, the side walls I I0 maybe pivotally mounted upon a base I40, the said side walls being urgedtoward each other by a spring I afllxed to lugs in the side wall asshown in Fig. 7. It will be noted that in the instant embodiment, therims 2H1 of the rotors 200 telescope within the flanges I10 provided inthe side walls. As appears particularly in Fig. 7, the shaft members 220are considerably shorter than those illustrated in Fig. 2, and there isno central hub similar to the hub 24.

The card receiving structure 250 is in the present embodiment formedfrom three frames, see Fig. 8, having legs 252 and 253 interconnected byan upstanding arcuate end wall 254. The ends of said legs rest upon andare fastened to the fiat surfaces of the polygonal shaft members 220.The resulting platform structure is similar in its purpose and basicform to the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4. To provide means formounting the guide rods 340, a strap 350, which encircles the rearconnecting portion of the rods, extends across and is secured to theunderside of the legs of the immediately adjacent frame 250, thuspositioning the guide rods as desired above the plane of the legs 252,253. The ends of the rods snap into grooves provided in the transverseend walls 254 as appears in Figs. 6 and 7. Because of the spacing of theguide rods, it is preferable to provide the card slots (not shown) intheside edges of the cards rather than in the bottom edge as shown in Fig.5.

The construction shown in Figs. 6 and 7 lends itself particularly wellto a pentagonal, hexagonal, or other configuration of hub 220, toprovide a multiple compartment file unit.

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate other optional structuresin which a twocompartment or a four compartment filing system may be provided. In Fig.9, which represents an elevation in section of a two compartmentstructure, in which the rotors 2200, are bridged by a platform 22|extending therebetween and secured thereto. There is in the'Fig. 9embodiment no central hub corresponding to the hub 24 of the Fig. 4embodiment. The arcuate end walls 223 have on opposite sides of theplatform 22l webs 224 which provide means by which the guide rails 225"may be rotatably secured.

Inasmuch as the rails 225 may be relatively closely adjacent the rotors220a, it is contemplated that the cards to be filed in the Fig. 9 unitshall have the side marginal slots for operation with the guide rails.

The Fig. 9 structure is essentially useful with the base and side wallstructure shown in Fig. 7, inasmuch as no provision is made for a springequivalent to the spring 3| of Fig. 2. The springs similar to thesprings I4l QfFig. 7 will serve to provide the yieldable braking actionwhich restrains the free rotation of the filing unit.

In Fig. 10 there is illustrated a four compartment unit which isarranged about a polygonal,-

i. e., triangular hub 24a which is intended to cooperate with thetriangular shafts 22 of the Fig. 2 form. Formed integral with the hub24a, are the platforms 26a which terminate in the end Walls 30a. Asappears in Fig. 10 the immediately adjacent platforms provide base andrear walls for an individual card receiving compartment. The guide rails34 are strapped to the rear wall of each compartment, as by the straps35, similar to the description relative to Fig. 4.

Although it is preferable to form a compartment structure having morethan four filing compartments by utilizing theteachings of the Fig. 7embodiment, it is apparent that the hub of the Fig. 10 form may bereadily modified to afford 5, 6 or more individual card compartments.

In the embodiment of Fig. 11, the base 80 and side wall 8| are integral,and there is but a single side wall. Said wall is formed with a circularpocket 82, defined by the spaced walls 83, 84. A concentric socket 85 isfemale threaded.

The rotor unit 88 has the wheel or rotor 81, which is formed with thepolygonal shaft 88, the inwardly ofiset end 90 of which receives the hubof the card-receiving unit 9|. Said latter unit is preferablysubstantially similar to the unit 25, see Fig. 4, and has platforms 92and upward end walls 93. Rods 94 are pivoted to the platforms 92, andhook into slots provided in the end walls, as will be understood. Coilsprings 94a serve as follow blocks for the cards C, and resilientlysecure the rods within the end-wall slots.

Cooperating with the end 90 of the rotor unit to support the card unit9|, is an end cap 95,

which telescopes within the central hub of said card unit and engagesthe end wall thereof as clearly appears in Fig. 11. A bolt 96, which isreceived by the socket 85, serves as a shaft for rotation of the rotorunit 88. A locknut 91 serves as a friction bearing, engaging with thewall of wheel 81, which is pressed against said nut by the expansionspring 98.

It is a simple matter, as shown in Fig. 13, to increase the capacity ofthe unit to include more than one card-unit 9| Accordingly, anauxiliaryhub 99 cooperates with rotor member 88 and end cap 95 toprovide for mounting two units 9|. Obviously additional extension hubs99 may be added, within the capacity of base 80 to support the unit.

Although the invention has been described by making a fully detailedreference to the certain presently preferred embodiments, such detail ofdescription is to be understood in an instructive rather than a limitingsense, many changes being possible within the scope of the claims heretoappended.

I claim:

1. A filing device comprising a frame having outwardly springable sidewalls, each said wall having a circular flange extending inwardlythereof; a rotor supported on each said flange for rotation thereon,said rotors having inwardly-extending polygonal shafts at their centers;and a file member having a matching polygonal hub telescoping over saidshafts, platforms extending substantially tangentially with respect toan imaginary circle circumscribed by said polygonal hub, adjacentplatforms defining compartments;

' and members supported in spaced relationship with respect to saidplatforms for securing material to be filed within said compartments.

2. A filing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said side walls maybe sprung outwardly sufficiently to disengage with said rotors.

3. A filing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said side walls areresiliently urged in the direction of said rotors for light frictionalengagement therewith.

4. A filing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said rotors are infrictional engagement with said side walls sufficiently to restrain thefree rotation thereof.

5. A filing device as set forth in claim 1, wherein coil spring meansextend through the respective shafts and side walls and releasablyengage said side walls.

6. A filing device, comprising a frame having side walls, resilientrubber feet means disposed at the lower edges of said side walls, andtie rods extending from one wall to the other and passing through saidrubber feet, means to permit said side walls to be sprung outwardly withrespect to each other; rotors in releasable engagement with said sidewalls, and a compartmented file member supported by said rotors, each ofthe compartments of said file member having a plane platform extendingsubstantially tangential to the axis of rotation of said rotors.

ABRAHAM S. KARPER.

' REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

